Little Monsters

Our children might be more spot on than we ever thought when they next say there’s monsters in their closet. A new report by Greenpeace East Asia has revealed a range of hazardous chemicals in children’s clothing and shoes by brands like Disney, Burberry and Primark. In fact, every brand of the 12 tested was found to have products containing hazardous chemicals – including one Adidas swimsuit with “higher levels of PFOAs than permitted in their own Restricted Substance List” and a Primark children’s t-shirt containing 11% phthalates. Meanwhile, NPEs – which break down to form a toxic, hormone disrupting and bioaccumulative chemical – were detected in at least one garment from every brand, with Disney, American Apparel and Burberry the worst offenders. According to Chih An Lee, Detox Campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia: “These chemical ‘little monsters’ can be found in everything from exclusive luxury designs to budget fashion, polluting our waterways from Beijing to Berlin. For the sake of current and future generations, brands should stop using these monsters.” If you agree, head here to sign the detox manifesto.